We’re more than just curious about screenwriting in this episode, because I had the pleasure of bringing on two-time Oscar winner and one of my favorite writers, Paul Haggis. In terms of introducing him, it doesn’t need much. But what I love about this interview is that even though we know his name, discovering how Paul started his career, the bumps and hiccups he experienced along the way, and how he worked up through the ranks is illuminating. What I have been preaching about in my solo podcast, The Craft, is basically confirmed here – our job as a writer is to simply write. We can’t concern ourselves with every single facet of the entertainment industry, and Paul reminds us of this by having an innate ability to focus on what he loves – telling a great story. And more than that, he wants to tell the story that he personally loves whether the industry will accept it or not. It’s a scary thing to risk everything, as he so eloquently offers as his final words and advice, but it’s necessary where the creative arts are concerned. Looking down deep, digging in to what you know to be personally true for you, and listening to your own intuition – it’s absolutely imperative, and everything Paul and I discuss in this conversation centers on the writer’s need to follow his/her own personal path. As I’ve said before, there isn’t one path for a writer to take in order to create a career in this town, so find your own path and stick to it. It will serve you in the end.
